Always A Lesson's Empowering Educators Podcast

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221: Adjusting to the New Normal Sep 07, 2020

Show notes

The 2020-2021 school year will be one of adjustments just as 2020 has been for the world. Teachers that have a can-do attitude and adjust in the moment will be the most fulfilled. You have the power to choose what adjustments you make and influence those around you this year. Tune in to hear what actionable steps you can take to make adjustments that will be pivotal to your career this year.

Quotables:

This is a challenging season but its not a challenging life. Even good things are hard. Adjusting is choice a that we can fight or embrace.
Teachers and teacher leaders that can adjust in the moment have the most fulfilling careers.
Adjustments are interruptions that force us to grow, change and development into the next level of ourselves. We are challenged to think and act differently. We are given no options to back out.
Make the choice to adjust before it chooses it for you.
Adjust for you and your future. Everyone around you will follow your lead.

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220: Classroom Relationships with CJ Reynolds Aug 24, 2020

Show notes

CJ Reynolds teaches high school literature and the history of hip-hop in West Philadelphia. He is a graduate of Rowan University and has been a classroom teacher for 15 years. He is also the author of the upcoming book Teach Your Class Off and the creator of the Real Rap with Reynolds YouTube channel. CJ's YouTube channel and book are aimed at giving viewers an authentic glimpse into the life of a high school teacher in the inner city while at the same time helping new and veteran educators be the teachers and mentors they always wanted to be for their students. His bare-bones teaching philosophy is simple: In the classroom relationships are king, and the job of a teacher is always and only about the students.

Quotables

One of the things that I learned early on is becoming a great educator is taking all of the things that make you who you are and using them to be a teacher.
It is looking at what you have to teach and then thinking, what lens could I teach this though?
If you make it about the kids, it gives you courage, one, and two you are trying to be relevant, not cool.
A quite classroom does not equal an effective classroom.
Don’t wait for anything. Be the teacher you always wanted to be immediately.
I am very mindful at school that I only surround myself with people that I want to be like.
It is your attention over your advice that wins with students all the time.

Connect with CJ

Website: www.realrapwithreynolds.com
YouTube Channel: Real Rap with Reynolds
iTunes: Real Rap With Reynolds
Instagram: real rap with the reynolds
Facebook: Real Rap With The Reynolds
Facebook Group: Real Rap With Reynolds Teacher Talk
Twitter: @realrapreynolds
Snapchat: realrapreynolds
Soundcloud: Real Rap with the Reynolds

Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
Facebook: Always A Lesson
Twitter: @gschultek
Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

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Why?

This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long lasting effect on our future.

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Bonus Episode- Here Comes Baby! Aug 21, 2020

Show notes

In this personal episode, Gretchen gives live updates on Baby Elijah's birth story.

Gretchen discusses thoughts on going into labor, having a baby during the Covid-19 era and what it is like transitioning into a family of five. Tune in to hear about the details of Gretchen's third pregnancy and first baby boy!

This episode is sponsored by Power School/Schoology’s Time for Teachers initiative.

Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
Facebook: Always A Lesson
Twitter: @gschultek
Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Leave a Rating and Review:

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Why?

This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long lasting effect on our future.

How?

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Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’
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219: Being Effective with Lindsey Howe Aug 17, 2020

Show notes

Lindsey Howe is currently a first year PreK- 5 Assistant Principal/Instructional Coach for 3 elementary schools in Massachusetts. She previously was a 3rd- 5th grade teacher. She is an avid believer that all students deserve the best and are capable of learning at high levels. She spends the majority of her time pushing the educational envelope by encouraging teachers to learn and understand best practices in education and ditching practices that don't serve kids. In her spare time Lindsey enjoys working out, relaxing on the beach, and devouring the best PD books.

Quotables:

One thing I highly, highly recommend is collecting feedback from number one, your students, we don’t ask them enough for feedback about ourselves as teachers. And number two, from families in your classroom.
Listening more than I’m speaking in instructional coach role has allowed me to help get teachers what they want more effectively. It gives me more time to process instead of just rattling back an answer, especially if it is a hard conversation.
I cannot tell you how much of an impact my daily routine has on my energy and my attitude.
When I make time for myself, working out, reading a book, unplugging, I am so much better as a leader.

This episode is sponsored by Power School/Schoology’s Time for Teachers initiative.

Lindsay's Stamp of Approval

Connect with Lindsey

Twitter: @teachyouhowe
Instagram: @teachyouhowe
Website: https://teachyouhowe.wordpress.com/

Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
Facebook: Always A Lesson
Twitter: @gschultek
Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Leave a Rating and Review:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2

Why?

This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long lasting effect on our future.

How?

Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher.
Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’
Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.”
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Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best)
Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast
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218: Supporting Teachers with Nita Creekmore Aug 10, 2020

Show notes

Nita Creekmore is a wife and mother to four children. She has been in education for 16 years. She was in the classroom for 13 years as an elementary school teacher. She has taught four years in first grade, seven years in second grade, a little in third grade and two years in fifth grade. The bulk of her teaching career was in the state of Virginia and the rest in Georgia, where she now resides. Her 13 years of being in the classroom has taught her a lot about authentic teaching, being a life-long learner and the importance of hands-on learning. Nita Creekmore is now an Elementary Instructional Coach and supports teachers in grades PreK-5th grade.

Quotables:

Relationships are everything. One word or one negative conversation can break down that relationship so it is important to be very cognizant of your conversations.
The great educators are the ones who seek out the learning that they want.
We are all doing what is best for students right now, regardless of what your best is.
I let teachers know I am a resource and if I don’t know something, I will find it. I will find it for you and we will work through this together.

This episode is sponsored by Power School/Schoology’s Time for Teachers initiative.

Stamps of Approval:

Connect with Nita

Website: https://loveteachbless.wordpress.com/
Instagram: @loveteachbless
Facebook: LoveTeachBless
Twitter: @loveteachbless

Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
Facebook: Always A Lesson
Twitter: @gschultek
Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

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Why?

This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long lasting effect on our future.

How?

Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher.
Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’
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217: Systems and Routines with Kelly Jackson Aug 03, 2020

Show notes

Kelly taught for 6 years in the elementary classroom- 2nd and 3rd grade. During that time she loved teaching and encouraging her kiddos but found that her strength as a teacher really was in the area or organization. In 2016, she started her blog, The Simply Organized Teacher. Shortly after launching that blog, she launched a podcast Simply Teach. In 2018, she left the classroom to move abroad (Germany) for her husband's job. Since then, she has been working with busy and overwhelmed teachers to help them get their systems and routines in place so they can have organized classrooms that allow them to focus on teaching their kids. Quotables

When you can have a clutter-free classroom and an organized space to come in to, routines that your kids know the expectations for, it brings down that level of stress for the teacher.
I have learned the importance of always being willing to grow because when you are no longer willing to learn more or grow more, I think you have kind of ended your time in the education field.
I think as a new teacher it is really important to just pick one or two things that you are really going to focus on this year and get really good at those things before trying to add other things. You are going to have time to improve.
When I ask teachers, what’s your biggest struggle, it’s always time and I think organization helps give you back some of that time.

This episode is sponsored by Power School/Schoology’s Time for Teachers initiative.

Connect with Kelly

Website: www.thesimplyorganizedteacher.com
Social Media: @thesimplyorganizedteacher

Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
Facebook: Always A Lesson
Twitter: @gschultek
Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

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Why?

This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long lasting effect on our future.

How?

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216: Sustainable Classrooms with Mandy Rice Jul 27, 2020

Show notes

Teach On A Mission is a company Mandy built to help teachers build sustainable classrooms so they can stay there longer. After ten years in the classroom, she's now dedicating her time to helping teachers flip their classrooms so they can confidently get through their calendar and do more than lecture in class. She's supporting AP Psych teachers in her monthly coaching membership, and elevating teachers as the experts in the field of education. Mandy lives outside of Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband, who is a high school principal, and her three boys, all 6 and younger. In her free time, she's coaching her sons' baseball teams, crafting in her craft room or snuggled up with a good book. Quotables

The “it factor” is a teacher’s mindset on how effective they believe they can be, with a healthy dose of reality as well.
Hustling until you make it is not something that is going to keep someone in the classroom longer. It is finding that healthy balance between knowing what you can control and how you can be effective but also knowing what you can’t control and burning yourself out.
I did some research to find how I could increase student accountability in my room while providing more time to do something different than just lecture and that is what landed me on the flipped classroom.
99% of my students get 99% of the content and I don’t think you can say that about a traditional non-blended, non-flipped classroom.

This episode is sponsored by Power School/Schoology’s Time for Teachers initiative. Stamp of Approval

Amy Porterfield

Connect with Mandy

URL: https://www.teachonamission.com/
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/teachonamission/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teachonamission/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandy-rice-335957171

Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
Facebook: Always A Lesson
Twitter: @gschultek
Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

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Why?

This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long lasting effect on our future.

How?

Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher.
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BONUS: The Power of Community Jul 15, 2020

Show notes

Building a community is essential for growth. If you have never been part of an empowering community, it is nearly impossible to create one in your classroom or school building. Tune in to hear tips from coaches in the trenches for what aspects meant the most to them in finding an empowering community.

Enroll in the Teacher Leader Mastermind Fall 2020 Cohort here.

Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
Facebook: Always A Lesson
Twitter: @gschultek
Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

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Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter

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Coaching Call

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Leave a Rating and Review:

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Why?

This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long lasting effect on our future.

How?

Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher.
Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’
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215: Mindfulness with Kristin McKeown Jul 13, 2020

Show notes

Kristin McKeown is a mindfulness teacher, educational consultant, and coach. She helps educators integrate meditation and mindfulness into their daily lives so they can be at their best for their students, colleagues, and families. As founder and CEO of TeachingBalance, Kristin integrates her experience as a meditation teacher with her 25 years in public education to offer straightforward strategies, humor, and encouragement for teachers ready to prioritize their self-care. Join her FREE 21 Day Daily Meditation Program for Teachers! Quotables

The reluctant readers were the ones where, if I could just find that book, I just loved turning them on to reading for fun and showing them that there were so many books out there that they didn’t even know about that are accessible and that were going to engage them in a way that, for whatever reason, reading hadn’t prior.
I think there is something to be said for just savoring any kind words or feedback that any of your students or colleagues can ever give to you.
Be very kind and accepting and compassionate towards yourself in whatever is going on for yourself.
Slow down and give yourself a rest. We all know what it is like to come back after summer and you are so well rested and so energized and so ready to go. Are there ways that you can build that in?

This episode is sponsored by Power School/Schoology’s Time for Teachers initiative. Stamp of Approval

Passage Works

Connect with Kristin

Website: https://www.teachingbalance.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachingbalance/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachingBalanceLLC/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-mckeown/

Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
Facebook: Always A Lesson
Twitter: @gschultek
Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

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Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter

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Why?

This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long lasting effect on our future.

How?

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214: Making Progress with Kyle King Jun 29, 2020

Show notes

Kyle Scott King, is an educator, mentor, four time best-selling author, public speaker, founder and the Chief Executive Officer of The SHINE Institute. Kyle King also is the founder of Blueprint Conferences, a platform for educators to trade the life they have for the one they never knew they wanted. King also serves as the Dean of Students at one of Charlotte’s premier Charter Schools, Queen City STEM School. His life’s purpose is centered around advancing students through a comprehensive educational process that promotes excellence and provides them with the skills and resources to become globally competitive leaders of the future. He coined the phrase "You Do NOT have to be at an Ivy League School to be an Ivy League Student.” Starting out with local community mentoring efforts and a unique story, Kyle has become a highly skilled educator with over 7 years of experience offering empowerment in the areas of Curriculum Development and Design, Student Success Strategies, Personal and Professional Development, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Business and Economic Development. Through his experience as an entrepreneur, The SHINE Institute has grown to impact over 30,000 students around the globe.

Quotables

Behavior and instruction go hand in hand.
We focus so much on jobs and occupations instead of what opportunities can our students create.
In order for us to truly require excellence from our students, we have to stop operating in a state of mind of mediocrity.
I don’t care if you are jumping forward or taking baby steps forward, it is still progress.

This episode is sponsored by Power School/Schoology’s Time for Teachers initiative. Stamp of Approval

Connect with Kyle

Website: www.kylesking.com
Website: www.blueprintconferences.com
Facebook: @themissionplanner
Instagram: @kylesking
Twitter: @mrkingempowers

Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
Facebook: Always A Lesson
Twitter: @gschultek
Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Shop AAL Swag

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Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter

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Coaching Call

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Why?

This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long lasting effect on our future.

How?

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